TQM report,
Abuja Association of the Deaf Women Wing in collaboration with AbilityPlus Initiative on Saturday in Abuja marked the international day for persons with disabillities 2020 with award presentation and employment of deaf women.
Queen Janet Fasakin in her opening speech said that COVID-19 pandemic has deepened pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion, which also highlighted that work on disability inclusion is imperative because persons with disabilities are one of the most excluded groups in our society and the most hit in any crisis including this COVID-19 because it is a known fact that PWDs are among the poorest of the poor.
She also said that International Day for Persons with disabilities 2020 theme” building back better, toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable Post- COVID-19 World” is a call for the world to build a better inclusive and accessible and sustainable society in post Covid-19.
“That it will also provide for more agile systems that would respond to complex situations, reaching every member of the society, thereby no one is left behind ” she said.
“Abuja Association of the Deaf women wing, in collaboration with Ability plus Initiative are building back better in there own little way, toward a sustainable post covid -19, by coming together to add their voice of advocacy and by empowering its members to be independent, self-reliance and sustain them in this post covid 19” she added.
Therefore, AAD wing and AbilityPlus Initiative understood that a lot of their members were so hit during the Covid -19, many lost their jobs, many couldn’t go to where they earn a living daily because of lockdown, to eat became a problem because there were no money.
It became a concern for them and other organizations alike, they appealed to well meaning Nigerians to help with food stuffs and conditional cash transfers, it was not sustainable so she said but it helped.
In order to build a sustainable income for them and to stop begging for them so that the donors will not develop fatigue, they came up with and launched an initiative (EMPOWER HER) to empower deaf women to become self reliance, there is a saying “when you empower a women, you empower a nation”.
She said that the event offered an opportunity for few selected women to be empowered to sustain themselves and their families and by extension Disability community. There is an
She informed that one of Ability plus goal is to have a vocational centre where PWDs can be trained on difference skills such as Fashion designing,make up, hair dressing ,photography and others. It will come into fusion with your support.
She recognized the need to honour those she described as “our hero”, that is women with disabilities who are at the forefore of disability issue, advocating for rights of women with disabilities and disability inclusion . An award of excellence titled; “Inclusion Champion Award” should be given to them to thank them for their support and sacrifices.
She concluded by recognizing the power of togetherness that has existed among them and urge her members to continue in the same spirit so that a lot would be achieved for the good of deaf women and women with disabilities in general.
She specially thanked the following people and organizations for making her first outing as AAD women wing leader successful, Prof Kubby, Dr asonye of S-Deli, ASLIN Abuja chapter, Bar Francise Ibanga,Mr Olawale Alade , Latiwa foundation, Hajia Jamilah Hamza, Joseph Toyin, Olumeka Daniel Enwemike, Deborah Brown Majekodunmi of Kids ability, Hajia Amina, Mr Samuel Ogundare, Jummy her baby gal,
Avershima Akighir, Mal Abdulmumuni SUlayman Ujah , ECOWAS Court, and many others.
There were goodwill messages from Lawrence Idemudia, Executive Director, Centre for Deaf Inclusion, Ephraim Omoriege, the Chairman, Abuja Association of the Deaf (AAD), Abdulmumuni Ujah, Chairman, JONAPWD FCT, Mrs. Lois Auta Udonkata Founder/CEO Cedar Seed Foundation, President Network for Disabled Women, , Dr. Irene Patrick-Ogbogu, ED, Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC), Abdulwasiu Mosurat Tililope, former Women leader AAD, Abuja among others.
The event witnessed the presentation of award to deserving individuals such as Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu from DRAC for her contribution to sexual rights of Women and Girls With Disabilities, Mrs. Lois Auta Udonkata from Cedar Seed Foundation, the President, Network for Disabled Women for her contribution to the empowerment of women with disabilities, Abdulwasiu Mosurat Tililope immediate past AAD women wing leader, Charity James, former Nigerian National Association of the Deaf Women Wing leader, Bukunmi Adejumo and Deborah Dongana, sign language interpreters for their selfish services, Mrs.France Ibanga for her support for AAD women wing and disability inclusion.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of food items such as bags of rice and vegetable oil to those who lost their husbands and they want to go into food vendor business to start up. The one that excited the audience at the event was when the deaf lady that got a sewing machine donated by Latiwa foundation went emotional burst into tears of joy because it is a long prayer answered, she has gotten a sewing that will help her to start up fashion designing outfit.
TQM learnt that the empower her project is an ongoing project because there is still a lot of deaf women and Women with disabilities all over the places waiting for little capital or items to start up a trade.
Some pictures of the event:
